Reijnders leaves Manchester City for Saudi side Al-Qadsiah after just one season

One year. That is how long Tijjani Reijnders' spell at Manchester City lasted. He arrived from AC Milan with a reputation as a complete midfielder, earned a regular spot in Pep Guardiola's starting lineup, and now, barely twelve months later, he is packing his bags for Saudi Arabia in a deal that once again shows the financial muscle of Gulf football.

The Manchester club confirmed on Wednesday the sale of the Dutch midfielder to Al-Qadsiah, the club based in the coastal city of Al Khobar and owned by the state oil giant Aramco. Reijnders, 28, signed a five-year contract, becoming the latest major name to leave the Premier League for the Saudi league.

The transfer fee is in the region of 52 million pounds, about 70 million dollars, according to reports. The figure stands out because it is almost identical to what City received days earlier for Rodri, who was sold to Barcelona, meaning that in the space of a single week the English club has brought in roughly 140 million dollars by letting go of two starting midfielders.

So what will that money be used for? To keep driving the market under new manager Enzo Maresca. City has already used part of those funds to land Elliot Anderson, the English midfielder who arrived from Nottingham Forest for 116 million pounds (about 158 million dollars), and according to various reports the club remains interested in Ayyoub Bouaddi, the young Lille talent who impressed with Morocco at the World Cup.

Reijnders did not leave without making his mark. In his single season he helped the team lift both English domestic cups, and he said his goodbyes with a message full of gratitude on social media.

Two finals at Wembley and a season I will always remember. Thank you, City.Tijjani Reijnders

His run at the World Cup also remains fresh in memory. He played all three group stage matches with the Netherlands, but was left on the bench when his side was eliminated in the round of 16 by Morocco, on penalties after a 1-1 draw that the Moroccans managed to level in stoppage time.

An ambitious signing in Saudi Arabia

Al-Qadsiah is not arriving unprepared. The club finished fourth in the Saudi Pro League last season and is coached by Brendan Rodgers, who previously managed Liverpool, Celtic, and Leicester. Bringing in a player with Reijnders' European experience confirms that the Aramco-backed project does not intend to stop at eye-catching signings alone, but aims to build a competitive team within the Saudi league.

For Manchester City, on the other hand, the move reads differently: a way to refresh the midfield, sustain this summer's transfer spending, and give Maresca the pieces he considers necessary for his first full project in charge of the team.